Ingram Honored for Contributions to Club

October 25, 2013

Staff Photo by S. Aaron Shamshoyan Russell Ingram holds up his glass during a toast honoring him for his contributions to the Salem Boys & Girls Club.

Staff Photo by S. Aaron Shamshoyan This plaque is part of a new garden dedicated to Russell and Roberta (Bobbi) Ingram for their generous contributions of over a quarter million dollars to the Greater Salem Boys & Girls Club.

by S. Aaron Shamshoyan

A community effort now honors a community centered man and his wife who among many other contributions have donated over a quarter million dollars to the Greater Salem Boys & Girls Club.

Russell Ingram has supported projects throughout town. He and his late wife Roberta (Bobbi) helped make a new senior center for Salem a reality, and when the Boys & girls Club sought cost saving measures, Ingram was there.

In 2013 alone, Ingram donated $140,000 to the club, helping pay down the mortgage and also funding a heating conversion from oil to natural gas. “It’s wonderful to give,” said Ingram.

Now, a bronze plaque mounted to a large rock sitting in front of the club is surrounded by flowers between the club’s flag poles. He’s one of the many rocks that this club is built upon, said Board Chairman Patrick Donovan.

Director of Development Denise Dolloff said the garden was a community effort, citing businesses around the greater Salem area that contributed supplies for the project.

Donovan said the dedication was well deserved. “Nobody individually compares to Russ Ingram,” he said.

Senator Chuck Morse read a proclamation from the New Hampshire Senate thanking Ingram for his generosity over a lifetime of giving. “This recognition is well deserved,” Morse said. “I wish that Bobbi was here to see what’s going on,” he added.

Donovan and club kids removed a black cloth covering the plaque, showing for the first time an etching of the Ingrams.

“No words can really explain how I feel,” Ingram said. “This is the most wonderful thing that could happen.”

The club now presents the annual Russell Ingram award to a member for their dedication to the club and community. In June, Nicholas Karatonis became the first recipient.

After the unveiling, guests headed to the teen center for a champagne toast lead by Chief Professional Officer Michael Centor in honor of the Ingrams.